Apparatus for dehydrating food products.



G. D. HARRIS.

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING FOOD PRODUGTS. APPLICATION FILED mum, 1907.

959,933. Patented may 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SEEET l.

Illlllln' VI G. D. HARRIS.

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING FOOD PRODUCTS. APPLICATION ILED MAY 24. 1907.

959,933. Patented May 31, 1910.

U, MINI,

M k KQ V F) @1 k w/Twsssss l)ll/mire G. D. HARRIS.

APPARATUS FOB. DEHYDRATING FOOD PRODUCTS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1907.

959,933. Pauamay 31,1910. l

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W! TNESSES k n lll VEN TUR perature of the air to e 4 I o f the material; but, onthe contrary, I em-A UNITED sTA-TEs lPATENT OEEIOE.

GORDON DON HARRIS, or BAY SHORE, NEW YORK, AssIGNon or ONE-HALF TOALBERT n. BRANDLY, or NEWYOR'K, N. Y.

v.AIIIEAIEtATUS FOB DHYDRATING FOOD PRODUCTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1910.

- Application filed May 24, 1907. Serial No. 375,528.

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that I, GORDON DON HARRIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay Shore, in the count of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented a certain `new and useful Apparatusfor Dehydrating Food Products, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention comprises an apparatus and original water content. The invention is particularly applicable,v

however, to the treatment of milk, eggs, and similar liquid bearing food substances, with a View to producing dry, sterile products therefrom, without substaintially altering the chemical ,character of the solid constituents in said substances.

The dehydrated products may be kept indefinitely and, when desired to be used, may be changed to substantially their original condition by merely mixing them with water.

lVith the foregoing objectsin view, I subi ject the material, which it is desired to dehydrate, while in the form of a film, to the action of air which has been previously treated to thoroughly dry (dehydrate) and sterilize the same, whereby saidsair-quickly absorbs the moisture therefrom, leaving the material in a dehydrated condition. Specifically, I pass a web of cloth, or wire mesh, (depending on the material undertreatment), in the ornrof a continuous apron,

through said material, whereby said web becomes saturated with the material, and then subject the web to the action of the dehydrated air. The material is quickly deprived of its moisture and remains on the web in the form of a film or powder from which it may be removed, in the form of a dry imp'alpable powder, by beating or whipping the web.

My process is not a ldrying one in the sense in which the term drying is commonly used, since it is not ,dependent on the temect the dehydration ploy a large volume o f ai-r, at comparatively lowxtcmperature, which air has\bee1rcom .letely dehydrated," kwhcheby said air acts merely, to absorb, rather than drive off b evaporation, the water contained in the pro ucts being operated u pon.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrativefonly,

and not as defining the .limits of the invention.

Figure l is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of an apparatus adapted to 'carry into practice my process of dehydratingfood oroducts, the plane of the section being in-` icated by the irregular dotted line 1-1 of Fig; 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken lon- Uitudinally through one form of apparatus or dehydrating air. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one of the substantially l closed chambers for operating upon thematerial of an endless carrier or web,.the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted 'line 3-3 in Fig. l. Fig/lis a vertical .cross section taken in the plane indicated by the irregular dotted lineA-i of Fig. l looking 'I in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 isan enlarged detail view showing one orm of a soy mechanical beater or whip adapted to re-v v move the treated material from the carrier. or web. Fig. 6' is a detail view showing in' horizontal section a form of the means for operating the mechanical beaters' or whips.'

Fig. 7 is a detail Ahorizontal section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing on an enlarged scale a pairl of wipers adapted to remove the surplus mate'- rial from an endless carrier and to secure substantially airtight connection between the supply tank anda treating chamber of the apparatus.

In one form of apparatus contemplated by this invention-I employ a substantially endless carrier, A, which is adapted `to travel into and through a series of chambers or compartments which are provided in a cas-,f

ing, B. A preferred form of this casing, B,

is shown in Fig. 1, wherein said casing is shown as having chambers, b, bf, b2, b3. Itis to be understood, however, that lany appro priate form of casing may be employed, and" that the several chambers may be arrange in di ferent positions than in the apparatus shown in sait Fig. l. As shown, the casing,

B, is substantially rectangular', and the sev` eral chambers, b, b, b2, b3, are at the respective sides of the rectangle so as to yform a cleaned andmaintained in a substantially continuous inclosure for' the several leads of the endless traveling carn rier, A. A

The material to-be treat-ed is adapted to be contained inv a tank, C, which is located in a substantially closed chamber, b, of the casing. Said tank is composed, preferably, of glass in order that it may be readily good sanitary condition, As shown, the tank is open at its upper side inorder that the supply of 'material may be replenished conveniently through a charging pipe, e, the latter being secured to the top, c' ,'of thechamber, Z1, and

adapted to convey the liquid, or semi-liquid materia-l directly into said tank, C. The filling pipe, c, is shqwn as having a cap, 02, screwed thereon, but it is evident that this pipe may be extended so as to -lead to a chamber,

suitable source ofsupply, such for example as a pump, whereby the material 'to be treated may beied conveniently to the tank, C. The end portions of the tank, C, are belw the treating chamber, b', and the return chamber, 63,'respectively, and two leads 4of said endless carrier, A, are adapted to exftend into-sail tank, C. The ingoing lead of the carrie 'passes from the chambent, into the cham er, b, and thence downwardly into an end portion of the tank, C, where'- by said lead of. the carrier-fits beneath a 'guide roller, D. From this roller' the carrier, A, extends horizontally along and close to the bottom of the' tank, C, and thence passes around another guide roller, D', which is located below the treating or desiccating chamber, b'. It 1s preferred to make the rollers, D, D', of glass', although it is ,evident that the tank, C, and the guide yrollers therein may be composed of any other appropriate readily cleansed.

An outgoing lead of Athe endless carrier,

material adapted to be 'A., passes upwandly from the tank, C, into and through the treating chamber, 6', said outgoing4 lead passing over a guide element, D2, which is located at on about the point where the upper part of the desiccating L', communicates with the right hand end portion ofthe chamber, b2, The

guide element, D2, is represented as a Skele tonized roller,over which the carrier, A, is uadapted to travel with a minimum amount of friction between the surfaces of the roller and the carrier. It is, preferred to employ a guide roller composed of a series ofvrods secured to suitable headsand mounted on the horizontal shaft, d, oneend of said shaft extending beyond the Casin B, and provided with a pulley,'d','see4 Fig. The endless carrier passes horizontally Athrough the chamber, b2, and thence downwardly ,into the return chamber, b3, said carrier passing over a driving roller,'D. Said roller is carried by a shaft. (Z2, which extends horizontally through the casing,andy on thisshaft,

'is a series of pulleys, d, ci, d5.' Thelpulley, cl3, is in line with the pulley, d',"o f the shaft, d, .of the skeletonized guide` member, D2,

and said'pulleys, cl', el?, are connected operatively by abelt, D4, whereby the guide member, D2, is'driven at the same speed as the l vdriving pulley, D3, and the endless carrier,

A'. The carrier as it passes over the driving roller, D3, is engaged by a friction roller,.e, which coperates with the roller, D3, so Jthat the endless carrier is gripped frictional-'ly between the rollers, D3, e, for the purpose of driving said carrier at the desired speed. The pressure roller, e, is on a shaft, e2, which is geared at c3 with the shaft, d2, of the driving roller, D3, see Fig. 3. Air is prevented from passing from the chamber, b2, into the chamber, b3, by a plate, f6, and a spring plate e', the latter pressing on the roller, e, see Fig. l. chamber, b, and the chamber, b3, is out off by the employment o one 0r more cut of plates, f, two of said plates being shown as having frictional engagement with the respective sides of the carrier substantially at the point where it enters the chamber, b.

At the point where the outgoing lead of lthe carrier passes from the chamberI Z), into the treating chamber, b', I employ a pluralitylof cooperating wipers, F, F', shown in Figs. l, 7, and 8 of the drawings. These wipers are hung or pivoted at f' for movement by gravity inwardly toward each other and theendless carrier, and said wipersare shown as having the guards, f2, which are inclined downwardly toward each other and terial which is moved from the carrier by the lirictional engagement of the wipers therewith is adapted to be deposited on the guards, f2, and to be returned thereby into the tank, C. It is preferred to employ weighted inclined wipers, substal'ltially as shown in detail in Fig. 8, for the purpose ol" making said wipers operate by gravity, the wipers having such frictional engagement with the ascending lead of the carrier as will remove the surplus material therefrom, and leave only a thin film of material on the carrier. v l

vBetween the treating chamber, 7)', and the horizontal upper chamber, b2, there is arranged 'another cut off, f3, 'adapted to preclude the passage of air from one chamber into the other. The u per chamber, b2, is dividedA by other cut o s, f4, 5, into a plurality ofcompartments through which air .toward the carrier, whereby the excess niacannot circulate freely from the chambers,

', b3, into the compartments of the upper chamber, b2.

The underside of the upper lead forming i a part of the endless carrier, A, is'adapted to be supported in two of the compartments of theupper chamber, b2, by a plurality ot rods, g, y", shown in. F igs.,1 and 3, said rods extending 'in the direction of the length of this chamber, 722, there is provided a grid composed of a row of rods, G, which are arranged crosswise to the rods, g, g', substantially as shown in Figs. i and 3.

H designates a hopper which is arranged directly below the middle compartment of the chamber, h2, andthe grid, G, said hopper being adapted for the reception of the treated material, which material is removed lnechanicallyfrom the horizontal lead of the carrier, rk, by' the action of suitable whips or beaters to he hereinafter described. The hopper, Il, is prdvided with a tube, i, adapted to be extended any suitable place where it'may be. desired. to discharge the treated material, such as in a closed chamber from which the material is to be put up into packages, or packed into suitable air-tight contalners.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 of the drawings,l I .have illustrated one embodimentof means for dehydrating the air which is to be suppliedl to the treating chamber, b', for the purpose of absorbing the water and moisture which is present in the lm on the ascending lead of the carrier, A.

The means shown for dehydrating air contemplates an elongated casing or trunk, I,

*extending outward.) lthat sideithereof which contains the treating .claamber, b, but the particular form of the vcasing, I, and its position with relation to ly from the casing, B, on

the apparatus are not material. Extending 'v upwardly from the bottom of the casing or trunk, I, is a series of partitions, e', while other partitions, f5', i2 extend downwardly from the 'top .of said casing or trunk, I.

Each-partition, e', vl, i2, is hollow shell adapted ,to be packed or charged with suit- 'able non-conducting material, is. The several partitions nre inclined substantiallyas Yshown inFigQ-Qpand the partitions z', c", are `parallel 'and spaced to provide the descendlngtlues, I', whereby two adjacent partitions, z', i', constitute what may be designated as a neutral baille, the latter precluding the passage of heat or cold from heaters and coolers of the dehydrating devices.

The partitions, z', i, provide chambers in the casing or trunk, I, and said chambers 4contain the heaters, J, and the coolers, J. Sa-1d heaters and coolers are arranged alter- '.nately 1n the chambers of the casing or trunk, I, `and `as shown in Fig. 2, the first chamber contains 'a coiled pipe heater, J, the

second chamber a cooler, J ,thc third chaml ber contains another heater, \J, the fourth chamber contains a form of cooler, J 2, hav; ing circulating pipes, y, 'the fifth chamber- Contains anoti'ier .hea-ter,- il, and the sixth chamber contains another cooler similar to the cooler, J whereby the heaters and coolfaces opposite to the coolers, J', J2, with batlies, j', saidr bellies being inclined toward i said coolers for the purpose 'of directing the current of air into intimate contact withsaid" coolers. The heaters, J, are shown in the form of pipes extendingacross the compartments or chambers of the casing, I, and said pipes are supplied with dry superheated steam by valVed-pipes, jg, but itis evident that the particular form of heater may be modified or changed as desired.

Certain of the' coolers, J', are shown as consisting of corrugated shells adapted to be supplied with cold air from valved pipes, jg, and the cooler, J2, is provided with the pipe, y', .which may be supplied with 'an ammoniaca] cooling agent by valved pipes, j, but it is evident that the particular# form of cool'er may be modified as desired.

Air is blown or forced in the casing, I

by a fan K, and the air is caused to circuj late in a circuitous path through the chamy bers and the ilues provided within the casing, I. The air brought into contact with the heaters and the coolers successively rwith a View tol eliminating the moisture containedv therein, and the temperature of the heaters and the coolers may be so regulated as to produce a current of dehydrated air 'at the proper temperature suitable for treating the material contained in the form of ailm on the endless carrier, A. The moist-ure i which is condensed by the contact of air with the coolers, J J2, -is collected by the troughs, J3, which are provided below the p partitions, i, 2, and from said troughs cxt'end the drain pipes, J4, which are or may bev provided with sight tubes formed by sections of glass, whereby the. water of condensation may be discharged by opening suitable valvesprovided in the drain pi pes.V

-I1`rorn the end of the casing or-trunk, I, opposite to the fan or blower, K, extends a flue, K, which is connected with the treating chamber, b, preferably at a point above the wipers, I", It", and across thc outlet from this flue, K, is-a screen, 7c, shown in Fig. l.

With the upper part ofthe treating cham-l ber, b, communicates a stack or 11p-take, L, which forms an escape flue for the air laden with the moisture absorbed from the material under treatment on the endless carrrier, A. This stack or u'p-take may be in 'the form ofa tube or a flaring funnel, and it conducts the air to any suitable place of discharge. In said stack is an exhaust fam.

Z, thelatter being operated by' any preferred 'means (not shown), whereby the suction fan operates toquickly remove the moisture laden air from the'treating chamber, b':

AIn' practice, the air' at the'upper part of the lchambenb, becomes heav by the moisture the heavy moist 'air from said chamber.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be understood that the carrier, A, takes up or absorbs a small .quantity of the material to be treated as said carrier travels through the tank, C, -and said material is conveyed by the carrier throughthe chamber, b', by and between the two series of battles, M, M; The battles, M, are secured to one side of the chamber, b, while the other battles, M', are fixed on the other side of said chamber, B'. The baiiles of one row are in alternate order to the balHes of the other row, and they 'are in the path of the ascending current vof dehydrated air, whereby the bafiies ldirect the air in a zigzag course through the chamber, Z2', and into intimatecontact with the film of material on the endless carrier,

A, as it travels through said chamber, b'.

The material on the endless carrier 1s thoroughly .dried as` it is" carried through said chamber, b', and` when the material is moved by the carrier, A, into the chamber,

b2, it is in a thoroughly'rlesiccatedcondition.

Said material is/removed from said carrie-r in the middle compartment vof the chamber, b2, by the action of certain beaters or whips, O, O', the latter 'operating vinsaid chamber, b2, and between the bars forming the grid,-G.

As shown V in Fig. 3, I'vprefer to employ two rows of beaters, O, O', one series of which is pivotally mounted on one side of the endless carrie-1*,"whereas the beaters of the other series, O', are pivotally mounted@l at the opposite sideof said carrier. Each beater is protfided'with journals, o, which are mounted lin suitable roller bearings, o as shown in Fi 5. The beater is provlded at one'end wit a socket, in which is secured a group of bristles, formed, prefer.-

r ably, by metallic wires, although other suitable material maybe employed as desired. The beater is' provided, furthermore, with an arm, g, against which acts a spring, 1]', each spring being seated on a suitable bracket, g2, and held in place by a guide rod, Q, said guide rod being connected pivotally to the arm, g, of the beater, as shown in Fig. 5. 'lhe row of beaters, O, have arms, f1, which are operated on by the rollers, r, of an operating cylinder, R, whereas the arms 'of the beaters, o', are operated uponby rollers, 7", of Va cylinder, R'. Said cylinders lt, R', are carried by shafts, 7', mounted in. brackets, R2, and said shafts, r2, are provided with pulleys, r3, which are driven by 4rapid acting beaters or whips.

95eme belts, Rt, from pulleys, R3. The two cylinders R, R',- are positively rotated so that the@ successive rollers, 1', 7", will engage` rapidly with the arms, g, of thev beaters'for the purpose of imparting rapid vibrator-y motion to said beaters, the quick action of the beaters being secured` by operatin them indvidually by the springs gt is preferred to support the beatersby' the roller bearings,

vto mount `each cylinder, R, R,in roller bearshown in Fig. 3. Such constructlon and.

arrangement are advantageous for the reason that the whips are adapted to act at irregular oints on the carrier or web, A, for practica ly its full width, whereb the treated material on said carrier or'we may be removed thoroughly and quickly` by the iurthermore, -the flexible web, A, restsl on the bars vof the grid, G, in the chamber, b2, and the Whips acton said web/in the spaces or in tervals between said bars, thus causingthe web .to yield or give slightl between .the bars under -theimpact Vor lows ofvsaid whips, the effect of which is to thoroughly remove the material from the web.

For the purpose of carrying loff the 'loose particleso the treated material which arev removed from the u per surface of the web bythe action of the eaters, which loose particles are suspended in the air of the chamber, b2, a blast orgentle current of deh drated air is supplied to the chamber, b?, y means of a pipe, S. One end of said pipe is connected to the ue, K, of the air dehydrating device I, and at its other end is a hood, s, the latter forming the top of the chamber, b2. ln the pipe, S, is a valve or damper, s', by which the volume and ressure of air may be regulated, and in the ood or the chamber, b2, 1s a screen, s2, the function of the latter being to diffuse the air in the chamber and above the web, A. A spreader, S', is above the screen, s2, and opposite to the outlet of the air ipe, S, to direct the current ot' air toward tiie end portions of the chamber. Said spreader, S', and the screen, s, tend to reduce the air ressure to a gentle current and to diuse tie air uniformly in the chamber, b2. The web. is not as wide as the chamber, b2, see Fig. 3, and spaces, s, are thus left between the edges of the web and the walls of the chamber', b2, through -which spaces the air is free to circulate and to carry the loose treated' material from the chamber, b2, into the hopper, H. Of course, the material on the underside of the web, A, which material is removed by the action of the beaters on said web, falls by gravity into the hopper, H, and thus the treated material is removed lfrom the chamber, b2, as fast as it is freed from the web, A. The air current cannot escape from the chamber, 7/2, lengthwise of the web or carrier for the reason that the f5, confiner the air in said chamber. i

The casing or trunk, I, is shown as having a thermometer, T, which should be arranged for viewing it from the outside of the apparatus, thus enabling'the operator to ascertain the temperature of the air current at the point where it enters the treating y chamber, b.

It is-'desired to call vattention to the fact that in my apparatus lprovision is made for thoroughly dehydrating the air priorto admitting the same to the treating chamber, and that the filmy material on the traveling carrier or web, A, is treated by such dehydrated air by a process of absorbing the Waterand moist-ure therefrom. A large volume of air is'blown b fthe fan, K, into the casing or trunk, I, suc air comingy in direct contact, alternately, with the hot surfaces of the heaters and the condensing surfaces of' the coolers. The air is thus expanded and condensed alternately while caused to circulate ina tortu'ous course over and around the devices contained in the casing or trunk, -I, whereby the moisture is eliminated from i ture of the air may be re web may take up the material from the tank,

C. Furthermore, the material on the web While passing slowly through the chamber, b', is subjected to the action of a large volume of sterilized and dehydratedy air, the circulationof which air in said chamber is 'augmented by the operation of the suction fan, Z, for the purpose of rapidly carrymg off the moisture laden air from the chamber,

li, the air in the chamber being brought into direct and intimate Contact with 'the films of material on the Webby the battles, where;

,by the material is thoroughly dcsiccated.

Furthermore, the slowly moving carrier or web is4 subjected to the'action of a large number of rapidly o erating beaters, 0, 0', in the chamber, b2, or mechanically removing the material from the-web in said chamcontamination.

ber, b2, and at the same time, the lmaterial is carried oil'I .by a gentle current of dehydrated air, so that the desiccated material 1s not exposed to the surrounding atmospheric air and is conveyed in'a closed conduit to receptacles, from which the material may be taken and packed under such circumstances that it cannot be contaminated.

The entire apparatus is so constructed and arranged that the material ay from beginning to the end of its treatment be handled in a sanitary marmer. In this connection it is desired to say that all lubricants are omitted -in order` that odors therefrom may not come in contact with the'material under treatment, such as milk, and, further,

air is prevented from passing one chamber to the other, to minimize the tendency of Furthermore, the de'siccated material on the web in the chamber, b', and

one compartment of the upper chamber, b2, is moved slowly and with care, and the web is supported by the skeleton guide member,

D2, and over the bars,.g, so as not to diss lodge the desiccated material from the web, A.

The carrier, traveling' web `adaptedto pass through the successive chambers and operate to continu'- ously treat the material. Said carrier may be composed of a flexible web of absorbent material, such as a text-ile fabric, when treating certain substances, but for other substances l may use a web of metallic gauze.

When it is desired to install a web, A, in the apparatus, or to replace one web by another, the apparatus may be yequipped with the rollers, T, T2,shown in Fig. l, The

chamber, b3, is equipped with av door, t, and( .in the chamber are the rollers, T', T2, on 105 one of :which the web to be removed may be wound. The other roller is adapted -to contain. a fresh web, and-when the latter is to be p aced in the several chambers of the apparatus, one end of said fresh web. is attachedto one end of the web to be withdrawn. The connected webs are now operated so as to draw the fresh web into the chambers, b, YJ', b2, b3, whilethe web to bef 5 operation ofthe two rows of heaters or whips0, O.

ln the practical operation of my apparatus it isI found that a certain volume of dehydrated air blown into the treating chamber has the effect of desiccating the material, but the bestl results are obtained byfintroducing two or three times the vol- 130 A, is shown as an endless ume of such dehydrated air for the reason perature ottthe air so that it W1 that the water and moisture are absorbed more quickly from the material `and the latter is dried more thoroughly an excess of dehydrated air in the treating chamber.

The air blown by the fan into the trunk or casing, I, passes upwardly and downwardly over the heaters and the coolers alternately,

and through the iues of the neutral' baflies, whereby the air is expanded by the heaters and condensed by the coolers for the purpose ot' thoroughly eliminating the moisture therefrom. By causing the air to circulate in a `tortuous course through the trunk or casing, I, the force of'the current is reduced and the air is `supplied in a comparatively gentle current to the treating chamber.

This makes it advisable to employ the suction fan, l, for exhausting. the moisture laden air from the upper part of the treating chamber.

The main purpose of the heaters, J, and the coolers, J, J 2, is to dehydrate the air and raise its tenq'ierature, but the final cooler, J, of the series employed is Vto reeulate the teml be in thebest condition i'oir the performance of its work ust as itis admitted to the treating chamber.

Although have described my invention as especially adapted for treating liquid and semi-liquid food substances, itis to be understood that the apparatus may be usedv foror semi-liquid subing a thin film of the liquid material on the web, means for dehydrlfiting air, and means for subjecting the material on a part of said web to the action of such dehydrated air, whereby said liquid Imaterial is distributed in a thin film on said web and exposed while in a lihny condition to contact with dehydrated air.

2. In a deh ydrating apparatus, a substantially closed chamber, a receptacle in said cl'iamber for containing the liquid'material to be treated, a fabric web adapted to pass through said material and .to absorb the same, whereby a thin lm of material is distributed over the surface of said web, means for alternately heating and cooling air, whereby said air is dehydrated, and means for subjecting the material while in a lmy condition and on a part of the web to the action of air so dehydrated, whereby the water present in the material on a part vof the web is absorbed by such dehydrated air.

In a dehydrating apparatus, a substani tially closed chamber, means for containing the liquid material to be treated, a flexible web adapted to pass through the materiah' means for dehydrating the material taken u by Athe web, and means for beat-ing said web and thereby removing the dried material from the web.

4. In a dehydrating apparatus, a substan tially closed chamber, means for containing t-he liquid material to be treated, a flexible web adapted `to pass through the material, means for dehydrating the material taken up by the web, means for removing the dried material from the web, and a hopper in communication 'with said chamber and into which l'iopper' a current of dehydrated air is adapted to be introduced for carrying olf the product after its removal from the web.

5. In a dehydrating apparatus, l an absorbent web adapted to carry the liquid material to be treated, a substantially closed chamber in which said web 'is adapted to travel, means for dehydrating air and supplying it to said chamber, and means for directing theA dehydrated air in a tortuous course through the chamber andalong part of the web therein.

In a dehydrating apparatus7 a substantially closed desiccating chamber, two groups of batllc's therein, the bales ot one groupJ being in alternate order to those ,of the other group, awweb adapted to carry the material to be treated between said groups of batlies, and means for supplying air to said chamber, whereby the air is directedv by the battles toward and against the material on the respective surfaces of said web. l 7. In a dehydrating apparatus, a tanli ior supplying the liquid-material to be treated, a substantially closed desiccating chamber communicating with said tank, a web adaptied to travel in thf` 'anh and in said chamber. and wipers cngagmg web and arranged at the pointI of communication between the desiccating chamber and the tank to form a substantially air tight connection between said tank and the desiccating chamber.

.8. In a dehydrating apparatus, a traveling web, means for desiccating material supported on the web, and,.beate\rs operating on the web subsequent to the desiccation of the material thereon, whereby the dried mateA frictionally with the Y desiccated, beaters pas carrier `web'is desiccatedtwo rows of beaters mounted at the respective edges of the kheb,

and adapted to operate thereon for substantially 'its width. yand means for operating said'beaters. f 11. In ,a dehydrati-ng `apparatus, a subp stantiallyelosed ehamberpa carrier. for the fstantially closed chamber, a carrier for the material, means whereby t-he material on7 thecarrier is desicoated, two rows of beaters l monnted'at the respective edges of the earrier, each row comprising beaters of diterent lengths and said rows operating on the carrier orsubstantially its width, ,and means for operating said beaters. f

13. In a dehydrating apparatus, a sub-y stantially closed chamber, a'carriery for ther material, mean's whereby the material-'on tle carrier ',is desie'cated, beaters each pivoted intermediate ,the length thereof and provided with a 4whip and witha shank, and va rotary operating member having means for engaging with the Shanks of said beaters for impartin rapid vibration thereto.

14.V n a deh' dra'ting apparatus, a sub stantially' close( chamber, .a carrier for the treated material, means' whereby the material lon the carrier lis desiceated, 'spi-iugm@ tuated pivoted beaters or whips adapted to operate on the earniei,`and an operating member for imparting' rapid vibratory motion to said beaters or whips.V i l 15. In a ,dehydiating apparatus. a aubstant-ially closed chamber, a flexible web adapted to carry the treated material, means whereby the material on said flexible web is 'desir-cated, a grid overivhieh the web is adapted to travel, and whips or beaters operating on said web subsequent to the desiccation of the material thereon, whereby said whipsor beaters remove the material from said web. V

16. In a deliydrating apparatus, a substantially closed desiceating chamber, a carrier operating in said chamber, meansfor mechanically removing,r the treated material from saideai'i'ier, a hopper communicating with said chamber for receiving,- the dehydrated material removed from the carrier, and means for admitting a current of air to said chamber whereby the loose particles of treated material are carried into said hopper.

17. lu a dehydrating apparatus, a substantially closed chamber, a-hoppei' for the treatedmaterial, a flexible web operating in said chamber. means whereby the material on'said flexible web is desiccated, a grid over which the web is adapted to travel, beaters operating on the web for removing the treated material therefrom, and .means Jfor admittingr a current of air to said chamber. 18. ln il dehydratiiig apparatus, a tank for a substantially air tight desiccating chamber' communicating with said liquid tank, a stack or uptake leading from said desieeat' ing chamber, a web adapted to travel in the tankuind the desieeating chamber, meansfor supplyingv dehydrated air to the desieeating chamber, battles inthe desiccating chamber, and a suction fan in the stack or uptake and operating to exhaust the. moist air from the desiratin' chamber.

19. In a dehydrating apparatus, la pluralitytot chambers, a traveling web adapted securing substantially air tight connections between the several chambers and the web at the points where said web enters or leaves the eliainbers, means in one of said chambers for supplying liquid material to the web, :means for admitting dehydrated air to another of said Chambers, and means in aV iurn ther one of said ehambeis for beating the removed from said web.

20. ln a dehydrating apparatus, a plu ralit-y of substantially air tight chambers, a

. web adapted to travel through said chamu bers, means in one chamber for supplying material to be treated to said web, means for admitting dehydrated air to the material in the web during its passage through another ot said ehambers, means in another chamber for removing treated material from theweb, and means independent of the dehydrated air admission means for admitting a current of air to the last mentioned chamber.

21. ln a dehydrating apparatus, a tanlr .for the liquid material. to be treated, a desic Ieating chamber in eonm'iunication.with the tank, a beatinlgT chamber in oommunipatioii with the desieeating chamber, a web adapte ed to travel through the tank and the ai'f'oren Said chambers, means for desieeatiiig the material on the 'web as it travels through the desieeating chamber, and means for beating the web as it, passes throueh/the beating chamber and subsequent to tee operation of desieeating the matiai, en said. web, whereby the dried material is removed from said web.

22. ln a dehydrating apparatus, a desir:u

-ating chamber, a beatingn chamber in oominunieation with said desiecat-inp; chamber, a, web adapted to travel in said chambers, means for supplying material te be treated ,to the web, means ior supplying a dehydrating agent to the desieratingg chamber, and beaters in said lieatir ehan r for operating on the webtliy vein removing' the dried mate l Ytroni l web.'

ln' a. deugmtratin" apparatus, e. desiecontaining the liquid material to be treated i web, whereby the deliydrating material is to move .through said chambers, meansfor ies vfcating chamber, a beating chamber in com- 'munlcation with said desiccating chamber, a

Web adapted to,tra\'el in said chambers,

I means for supplying material tobe treated therefrom.

to the web, means for supplying a dehydrating agent to the desiccating chamber, means for exhausting moist air from the outletend of the desiccating chamben whereby the moist air is recluded from entering the beatin ,cham er, and beaters operating `onthe We for dislodging dehydrated material means for supplying material t0 be treated to the web, means for supplying a dehydrating agent to the desiccating chamber, beaters operating on said web and Within the beating chamber for dislodging dehydrated material therefrom, and means independent of the aforesaid supplying means to the desiccating chamber for feeding a dehydrating agent to the beating chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my neme to this specification in the presenceo'f v'two subscribing witnesses.

\ GORDON DON HARRIS Witnesses:

JAS. H. GRIFFIN,

. H. I. BERNHARD. 

